Set on 120 acres off of 348th Street, West Hylebos Wetlands Park features a large trail network through the Hylebos Wetlands. A 1.7 mile boardwalk takes visitors deep into the nature area. The city will be publishing an updated version of a map of walking trails in the city and organizing walking groups after receiving a $10,000 Get Active, Stay Active grant from King County. Mirror file photo

Grant will help city of Federal Way promote trails, walking

The city of Federal Way wants to get residents out and walking on its trails in 2018.

The parks department recently received a $10,000 Get Active, Stay Active grant from King County, which will be used to promote Walk Federal Way – a program aimed at getting people out and walking on trails and in parks throughout the city, said Cody Geddes, recreation supervisor for the city.

“(King County Councilman) Pete von Reichbauer’s office reached out to us and said, ‘there’s some leftover grant funding. If you guys are interested please give us list of opportunities that would be eligible for our grant funding program,’ ” Geddes said. “We reached out with a handful of ideas and they liked the Walk Federal Way program. … What they are looking for is opportunities to get people out and doing exercise in some form or fashion. We felt that walking is the most accessible opportunity.”

The program will have two components – publishing an updated version of a map of walking trails in the city and organizing walking groups.

“We could identify trails or walking routes that there would be a walk leader on certain days of the week to take a group to help socialize and to get people out and familiarize them with our trails and parks and really just our community,” Geddes said.

“Even if we have a programming component, we will still try to do (a walking group) on a Saturday where families can come and familiarize themselves with trails,” he said.

The project is still in the planning stages, Geddes said, but he hopes to have the walking groups started by the summer. The updated trail maps will be available by the end of 2018.

“We feel it is important because it is a low barrier to entry,” Geddes said. “Anyone can get out and walk. You don’t need any specialized equipment. You just need to be able get yourself outside. That is what the map component is. It allows anybody to see what we have to offer. Then the walking groups, if you can get out, get to a trailhead or wherever we can get a walk group, then it allows people to get outside and socialize.”

This is the first time the city has received a Get Active, Stay Active grant from the county.